Page 70 of The King's Omega
Selene took us to our rooms, where a steaming bath was waiting. Milian dismissed her and stripped while I tried not to vomit. “Wash me, mate. Tonight, I will give you your wedding gift: Rigol’s death. And you will give me mine.”
“T-tonight?” I forced myself to approach and lift a sponge. “You’re killing him for me tonight?”
“I would do anything for you, darling.”
I sighed. “B-but you love Selene.” I ran the sponge haphazardly over his bony shoulders, keeping my eyes on his wispy, thinning hair. If I peeked beneath the bathwater, I knew I might be sick.
“She’s a tool, my dear. She’s nothing to me. And after she signs this country over, she’ll be dead, too.”
Signs this country over?I wasn’t sure what that meant. “She will?” I forced my eyes to stay wide. “But how? Why?”
“We can’t have more than one queen of Rimholt, can we? You and I will rule both countries. Well, I will.”
“O-of course.” I scrubbed his arms, pretending I was doing laundry. I must have been too rough; he grabbed the sponge and finished on his own.
Tonight. He was going to kill Rigol tonight. “May I excuse myself from the meetings and dinners, to prepare for our mating, my lord? I would be beautiful for you. I’m so dusty, and tired.”
“Sleep well,” he said, chucking me under my chin. “You’ll need your energy tonight.” He stood in front of me, his swollen rod only inches away from my face. His balls were saggy and wrinkled, but he fondled them as I watched, as though he were giving me a great treat. I tucked my head down, blushing furiously.
“By the Goddess, I can’t wait to fuck that innocence right out of you.” He pulled me to him, kissing me so hard my lip split. The blood seemed to excite him more. “You’ve done nothing, have you? Selene told me you were a true innocent.”
“Y-yes, my lord. I… hope I can please you.”
A rough hand mashed against my skirts over my mound. “This night cannot come soon enough,” he ground out. He swung me away and went to dress, and make sure his orders regarding the prisoners had been followed.
I called the servants in for fresh water—anything to delay taking my clothes off while he was still in the room—and by the time I slipped into the water, he was gone.
He’d left guards outside the door, and my two maid servants inside. I bathed quickly, planning furiously. I knew what I had to do; the hardest part was believing I could do it.
I wasn’t the strongest, or the bravest, or the best at anything. I was a servant girl with nothing to my name but a kitten.
But I was the only one there. Roya had believed in me and showed me what I lacked: confidence that I could make a difference. She wanted to murder bad men, and I had no doubt she would grow up and do just that.
I might or might not be some magical legend, but I wanted to fight for the ones I loved. I wanted to save my kingdom. Iwouldsave it.
“A girl’s got to have a hobby,” I whispered as I dressed hastily. “What if I’m good at it? I could go all over, save kingdoms wherever they need it. Maybe make a living, saving—”
“Miss?” A feminine voice interrupted my internal encouragement.
“Fetch me food and wine,” I ordered the drab maid—Vinca, I thought her name was. I didn’t care to remember it; if my plan worked, I’d never see her again. Once she had left, I fussed with my dress. “This gown isn’t fine enough. I’m sure Selene kept the better dresses for herself.”
The other servant, Marjann, tittered.
“She would have, that one. A whore to her very soul.” She hesitated. “I wish you didn’t have to go with King Milian. He’s a brute in bed. It won’t be a good first time.”
I knew better than to agree; this woman was his spy as much as Selene had been. “I can’t wait. There’s something about him that makes me…”—want to be sick? Want to stab him in the heart?—“makes me shiver.”
“Ah,” she said, and relaxed. “You should have a better dress, and a dressing gown. I’m sure this castle has nothing, though.”
“No,” I said, my finger on my cheek like I was pondering a vital question. “The laundry mistress, Sorcha, would know where to find the best gowns, although the noble ladies might have tried to hide them. I could ask her—”
“No, my lady, you aren’t to leave this room.”
“You’re right, that would be dangerous. We’re surrounded by enemies.” How true that was for me. “I only wish I could honor my mate as he deserves.” With a face full of boiling pitch.
“I’ll find a dress.”
“It’s not safe for a woman alone,” I protested. “I’m already worried about Vinca being out there on her own.”
